Post by Dietmar on Mar 24, 2011 11:32:33 GMT -5

I recently found a letter written by Mari Sandoz to Harvey Little Thunder, wherein she compiled some info on Little Thunder, one of the most prominent Sicangu leaders. I think it´s very, very interesting and raises some questions:

To Harvey Little Thunder Lincoln, Nebraska November 20, 1961

Dear Mr. Little Thunder:

I've glanced through my index for material about your ancestor, Little Thunder, chief of the band struck at the Blue Water by General [ William S.] Harney in 1855. The material is so voluminous that I'll mention only the more readily obtainable, with some of the military and Indian bureau records obtainable if you ever get to Washington, to the National Archives. It is true that these records can be copied for you by photostat or microfilm at no great cost, but even the obtaining is a task.

Much of this you will know, and some of this is contradictory, as you will expect. I leave the sifting to you:

1854 Little Thunder, Big Partisan and Man Afraid of His Horse among the soldiers when [ John L.] Grattan ordered "Fire" at the Grattan fight. Nebraska State Historical Society Publications, Vol XX, 259

1855, "Reminiscences of the Indian Fight at Ash Hollow, 1855", by General Richard C. Drum. NSHS Publications, Vol XVI, pp 143 - 164 Calls Little Thunder the father of Spotted Tail, whether blood father or not does not say, p 147, etc.

1855, Little Thunder's niece, Wachema and 4 nephews captured at Ash Hollow (Blue Water). Wachema later married John Nelson. "Sketch of life of Dick Parr, by Louise Parr, his wife, Annals of Wyoming, Vols 8-9, (Watch this, Parr not very accurate in many spots. ms)

1855. Little Thunder deposed after Blue Water and Bear's Rib made chief in his place. The City of the Saints, etc., Richard E. Burton, p 89, etc.

1855 Little Thunder's Brules captured and taken to Pierre, arrived Oct. 1855, made treaty March 1856, planned Indian police, etc., A History of the Dakota or Sioux Indians, by Doane Robinson, Vol II, 225. (Twelve had got away and beat Harney to Laramie after Blue Water fight.)

3-5-56 Sioux Expedition Letter Book 9B, turn over to Little Thunder all property captured on Blue Water Is at Pierre. Above Letter Book's in National Archives, Washington, as late as 1942

2-11-56 Little Thunder, Iron Shell and 400 lodges on Hat Creek, yesterday nephew of Red Leaf and Son of Black Hart, & another murderer of mail party brought in by large detachment of Brules, headed by Little Thunder and Iron Shell. Fort Laramie Letter Book 10A

4-14-65, Little Thunder and 60 lodges surrendered at Laramie, War of the Rebellion, 100 1

2-10-67 Little Thunder succeeded man called Fighting Bear, later by disease, was no longer able to lead his braves in Battle. So asked Young Spotted Tail be put into his place. Rocky MountainNews

6-15-65. Led by Little Thunder's son yesterday. 6-13-65, Dog Feast at Horse Creek, 382 warriors sat in secret council. Was taking Indians around Ft. Laramie to Ft. Kearny, with orders at the fort there to hang any Indians who tried to escape. Never got there, Indians killed Fouts and escaped across Platte on way (led by young Little Thunder) War of Rebellion, pp 101, 102, 971, etc.

Etc. etc. From the Indians I got much personal material on Little Thunder, much of it in confidence. I was told that some of Fout's officers kept throwing the small children into the Platte river to watch them swim out and that they took some of the young Sioux maidens to their tents at night. Out of this came the mutiny.

There's a good book in Little Thunder if you want to write it. Sincerely, but in haste,

1. U.S. War Department, The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies ( Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1880- 1901).

Post by kingsleybray on Mar 25, 2011 2:36:23 GMT -5

Thanks Dietmar, for posting the Mari Sandoz letter. It is full of fascinating and tantalizing information. The references to the Denver newspaper ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS are very interesting. Does anyone know if old issues of the RMN have been digitalised?

Post by miyelo on May 8, 2011 9:39:37 GMT -5

Hi Dietmar---can I ask where you found this Mari Sandoz letter? Is there a copy of it somewhere-a photo- of the handwritten letter itself? One of my best friends is a Sandoz and she was his cousin. He has photos and letters she had written him back in the 1960's and i'm sure he would like to see this, especially since he knows Little Thunder's. Thanks for any information.

Post by ephriam on May 9, 2011 8:39:00 GMT -5

Kingsley:

The Rocky Mountain News Daily (1860-79) and Weekly (1859-76) have been digitized by the Colorado State Library and are available at: www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org. I think the index does not work well, or at least, not all issues have been indexed. However, you can easily browse issues that you want.